Explos

Explosives are chemical compounds or mixtures designed to release large amounts of energy rapidly, producing heat, gas, and a high‑pressure shock wave. The resulting blast can fracture, displace, or remove material and is exploited in mining, construction, demolition, and military applications. In common usage, the term covers energetic materials (explosives) and the fast-acting energetic devices used to break substances.

Classification: Explosives are commonly divided by their energy release mode. High explosives detonate, generating a supersonic shock front and requiring confinement and a reliable initiation to perform. Low explosives deflagrate, burning rapidly rather than detonating. Examples of high explosives include TNT, RDX, and PETN; historical low explosives include black powder. Industrially, emulsions and ammonium nitrate–based formulations are widely used in mining and construction.

Mechanism and effects: The detonation or rapid burning produces a blast wave, overpressure, heat, and fragmentation. The effects depend on confinement, scale, distance, and the surrounding environment. Safety hazards include accidental initiation, toxic gases, and flying debris, emphasizing the need for strict handling controls.

History: The oldest energetic substances were developed with gunpowder in ancient China. The 19th century saw dynamite and stabilization of nitroglycerin by Alfred Nobel, followed in the 20th century by more stable high explosives and versatile plastic formulations, expanding both industrial and military applications.

Applications: Explosives are used for rock blasting, tunnel and road construction, quarrying, and demolition of structures. Military ordnance and specialized devices such as shaped charges focus energy for metal cutting or armor defeat. All uses are governed by stringent safety and regulatory regimes to minimize risk and public impact.

Safety and regulation: Handling and storage are tightly regulated, requiring licenses, trained personnel, and compliant facilities. Storage areas are designed to limit initiation by heat, shock, or friction and to segregate incompatible materials, with transport, disposal, and environmental considerations strictly controlled.